A head tending apparatus (40) for an ink jet printing system (10) with at least one ink jet (22) is disclosed. The apparatus (40) includes a solvent supply system for spraying solvent (70) on the faces (27) of the ink jets (22) and in the jet openings (28). The apparatus also has a brush (42) for scrubbing the ink jet faces (27) during and immediately after the spraying process. The solvent (70) loosens and dissolves any solid matter that may have formed on the jet faces (27) or in the jet openings (28) and also deprimes any ink remaining in the jets (22) when the printer is shut down; the brush (42) cleans the loosened matter of the jet faces (27). If the printer has a rotating image insert assembly (12) with the ink jets (22) thereon, the brush (42) and a solvent jet (66) are mounted to a shell (46) adjacent the ink jets (22). The brush (42) includes a bristle-free section (56) that is normally adjacent the image insert assembly (12) and spaced away therefrom when the head tending apparatus (40) is deactivated; this prevents the apparatus (40) from interfering with the normal operation of the printer. Head tending is normally performed when the printer is shut down, or prior to the priming of the ink jets (22).